Die cutter



L. SABO DIE CUTTER April 24, 1951 Filed Oct. 5, 1946 )Q 7 a 5% m, w 4 3 a w 5 0.

1 .4 w Wfi y 1 0 1 4/ W /Hu w 6 INVE N TOR L 00/5 5A 50 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1951 V DIE CUTTER Louis .Sabo, Astoria, N.-Y., assignor to Del-Sak v Corporation, New York, N...Y., a corporation of New York Application October 5, 1946-, Serial No. 701,532

The present invention relates to cutter dies and particularly to dies for cutting blanks of leather or similar material to a predetermined shapeand size. Such dies may be used for trimming'an attached heel breast fiap blank of a shoe having a heel fixed in place.

The heel breast flap of a. shoe is the covering of the forward side of the heel. It is commonly formed integral with the sole by splitting the rearward portion of the sole; The heel breast flap may be utilized as a means of adding to the attractiveness of the shoe by providing the flap with various designs which may be embossed on the surface thereof or made in the form of cut out portions revealing the underlying surface of the heel or of covering material under the flap. In other cases, the contour of the edge of the flap may be varied to stress the contrast between the color and material of the heel covering material and the color and material of the flap. The ornamental feature results in customers becoming increasingly observant of the heel breast flap of the shoes purchased by them. It is thus important that the workmanship on the heel breast flap be of high quality and that the flap be produced with a perfectly clean-cutedge.

The cutter dies heretoforemade generally may be divided into dies of fixed size and dies of adjustable size. The dies of fixed size are still commonly used in present day shoe making. machines; Some of the fixed dies have been provided with cutter or embossing surfaces for providing the ornamental cut-out or embossed por tion of the flap. However, the loss of time necessitated in changing the fixed dies during the manufacture of shoes of various sizes isa serious drawback to the use of a die of this type. For

7 this reasonjit is preferable to use adjustable dies,

such, for example, as those disclosed in my Patent No. 2,368,571 which is particularly useful in the making of heel breast flaps for shoes of various sizes.

While the adjustable dies heretofore used have produced a clean cut when in the'fully closed position for the cutting of narrow flaps, the dies have failed to produce a clean cut when spaced as in the cutting of flaps of larger sizes. In these cases an uncut portion has been left at'the point of separation of the cutters necessitating hand trimming which has added to the cost of the shoe. Moreover, with the adjustable dies heretofore available-it has been impossible to make ornamental cut-out or embossed portions in the heel breast flap.

*Anobject of the present invention is to pro- 9 Claims. (01. 164-31 vide an adjustable cutter which maintains continuity of the: cutting edge through the range of adjustment. ofthe dies. l A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable cutter including means for making ornamental cut-outs, or for embossing ornamental designs, within the area that is cut-outby the die. 7 Further objects of the. invention include the providing of an adjustable cutter in which the center line remains constantrfor cuts of various widths, providing an adjustable cutter in which the center line, remains constant and embossed or cut-out ornamental. designs are centered thereon and providing; an-adjustable cutter in which the center line remains constant yet the embossed or cut-out portion is maintained a predetermined distance from the periphery of the flap.

The present: invention aims to overcome the difiiculties of the: prior devices and accomplish the foregoing objects by providing a cutter which is of simple and rugged construction and which may be easily inserted in and removed from a mechanism for' operating same. The cutteris provided with adjustable cutters having" contiguous: cutting'edges, the cutters being mounted for movement relative to one another yet pro-' viding an uninterrupted cut in all adjusted posi-' tions. Adjusting mechanism is'provided for varying 'the relative position of the cutters while maintaining'the continuity of the cut, the position of the cutters being preferably shown by'in-' dica'ting means. Further, means are provided for mounting secondary cutters or embossing surfaces for ornamental designs with respect to saidlcutting edges so that the designs are main .tained in the desired positions for all widths, of out. In addition the construction and manner of mounting the cutters is extremely simple and yet is such as to assure afirm and. non-t pping cutting edge.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims together with the accompanying drawing, in which there is shown by way of example certain embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end view of a cutter die in accordance with the invention, the die being shown in position in a support of an operating mechanism for same.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cutter die shown in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 show,-

flap. the secondary cutter being afiixed to the base of the die.

Fig. 7 is a section on line -'I of Fig. 6 showing both the primary and secondary cutters.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of another modified cutter die, in accordance with the invention,

in which secondary cutters for producing"an ornamental cut-out in the heel flap are mounted for movement with the side cutters to produce" the design a predetermined distance from the edge of the fiap.

The dies illustrated in the drawings are especially adaptable for use in a machine for cutting heel breast flaps such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,511,999, granted June 20; 1950 on an application of mine, although it will be clearly understood that the invention is not limited to such use. In the machine shown in the said application, means are provided for reciprocally operating th cutting dies against a movable, expendable platen providing a cutting surface'agains't which the cutting edge of the die acts, means being provided to clear the platen and die of scraps of material, Positioning means are'provided for supporting a shoe in accurate position for operation of the cutter die on the heel breast flap attached to the shoe.

-'Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive one embodiment of a cutter die in accordance with the invention. The die I comprises a pair of cutter blades 2 and 3 slidably mounted on a base plate 4 in abutting relationship with a blade 5 afiixed to the base plate. The cutter blades are adjustably carried by means of a screw member 6 rotatably secured in a mounting block I attached to the base plate. The base plate 4 carrying the cutter blades is held in a machine for reciprocating the cutter die by supporting member 8. t The cutters 2 and 3 are used for trimming the sides of a heel breast flap to the desired shape and are supported for slidable movement on the base plate to trim flaps of various widths. The cutters are provided with bases Ill and H which are relatively wide compared to the height of the cutting edges l2 and [3 as may beseen in Fig. 4. This construction gives the blades a non-tipping characteristic. The cutting edges l2 and I3 may be shaped either to provide a smooth out or a cut of ornamental contour such as a serrated or scalloped edge. The blades of the cutters 2 and 3 are provided with threaded bores l4 and I5 having right and left hand threads, respectively, for engagement with screw member 6. The cutter bases In and II are drilled to form laterally extending bores I6 and IT in axial alignment with each other, the bores being positioned in cutter bases and I I back of the transverse center line of the cutters. A sprin I8'is placed in the bores to take up any slack between the cutters 2 and 3 and screw member 6.

The fixed blade or cutter is mounted on base plate 4 in a' transverse position with respect thereto and adjacent an end thereof by screws l9 and 20 or the like, the longitudinal axis of edge 2| of cutter 5 being parallel to the axis of screw member 6. Although the cutter 5 is normally stationary, the screw holes for screws l9 and 20 may be sufiiciently large to permit adjustment. The cutter has a straight inner side wall terminating with a straight cutting edge 2|. The end cutter 5 abuts th ends of side cutters 2 and 3 providing contiguous cutting edges for all positions of the side cutters.

The screw member 6 is used for adjustably positioning and supporting side cutters 2 and 3 on base plate 4.

s The screw member is provided with a smooth center portion for rotatable mounting in block I. The center portion of the screw member is made of a somewhat smaller diameter than the end portions thus forming shoulders holding the member in th mounting block against axial movement. The screw member extends on both sides of the mounting block to provide ends 23 and 24 having right and left hand turned threads, respectively, for engagement with the threaded bores l4 and [5 of cutters 2 and 3. An extension 25 of the member provides means for attachment of a knob (not shown) for convenient rotation of the screw member. Rotation of the screw member in one direction causes the separation of the cutter blades, while rotation in the opposite direction brings the blades together. The mounting block 1 is fastened to the base plate 4 by screws 26 and 21 or the like and holds screw member 6 and the adjustable cutters 2 and 3 to the base 4, the block being positioned approximately in the center of base plate 4. A bearing means 28 is provided in block I for rotatably supporting screw member 6. The bearing is formed by making a groove across the inner surface of the mounting block, the screw member being held therein between the block and base plate 4. 7

Base plate 4 is provided with upwardly and outwardly inclined edges 29 and 30 for engagement with a recess in supporting member 8. Supporting member 8 is adaptable to be attached to or form a part of a machine for reciprocating the cutting die and may be of any desired shape in accordance with the design of the machine. The supporting member is provided with a recessed portion 32-having inwardly and downwardly beveled or inclined edges 33 and 34 for engagement with inclined edges 29 and 30 of the base plate. The inclined edges of the base plate and member hold these parts against up and down movement thereof but permit a horizontal adjustment of one member with respect to the other member for cutting flaps of difierent lengths. A set screw 35 or the like may be used to hold base plate 4 in position in the recessed portion 32 of the supporting member 8.

Indicating means is preferably provided to show the spacing of the side cutters 2 and 3. As illustrated in Fig. l, the cutter spacing is indicated by a pointer 36 mounted on the end of one of said cutter blades 2 or 3 and readin on a scale 31 carried by the base plate 4, or alternatively by the other side cutter. The scale may be calibrated for any desired indication, such as in terms of shoe sizes. 7

In using the adjustable cutter I, it is positioned in recessed portion 32 of supporting member 8. Set screw 35 is then tightened firmly to hold the cutting die in position. The cutter blades are adjusted to the desired position as indicated by pointer 36 on scale 31 by rotatably turning screw member 6, slidably moving cutters 2 and 3 along base plate 4 t0 the desired position. The abutbeing supported by plate 4.

a breast flap.

ting. end of cutters 2; and. 3; cooperate with end cutter 5v toprovide-a continuous cut.-

In. the embodiment: of; the. invention shown in Fig; 6 .an auxiliary cutter or embossing element 216i is provided; for making an; ornamental cutout: or embossed design alonglthe center line of the. heel breast flap. The. bases ill and H. of cutters. 2 and 3: are. cut; away as indicated at 382 and 39 respectively to provide a space for the mounting. of the auxiliary cutter, The element Mi may be constructed toprovide a cut-out portioninthev desired shape or merely to. emboss a. design. of the desired shape on the. flap. The cutter is. mounted on block I, the. base of the cutter- By reason of the action ofi screw member 6 in positioning each of the cutter blades 2. and 3. an equal distance from the center line of the flap, the design formed by the element 40 will be centered in all adjusted positions of the cutters. 1/ 7 In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. '7 auxiliary cutters or embossers 4| and 42. are integral with or mounted on bases Ill and Ii of cutters 2 and 3. By this construction the de- Signs cut by auxiliary cutters. 4], and 42 arealways positioned the same distance from the outer edge of the cut and spaced an equal distance, on opposite. sides of the center line of the heel An adjustable die is thus provided maintaining the continuity of the cutting edge throughout the range of the adjustment of the die and providing a construction whereby "an ornamental cut-out or embossed device maybe positioned centrally, or at a predetermined distance from the edge, of the heel breast flap.

' The invention is not to be limited to the particular details of the construction which have been described in the above specifications or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as it is obvous that varous modifications may be made, within the scope of the claims hereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cutter die for trimming a heel breast flap to a predetermined shape and size comprising a base plate, an end cutter having a straight cutting edge and fixedly mounted on said base, a screw member rotatably carried by the base plate having oppositely turned threaded portions, and a pair of cutter blades each having a threaded bore adapted to engage with a threaded portion of said screw member to be positioned with respect to one another by rotation of said screw member and to be slidably held in position on said base plate by said screw member.

2. A cutting die for trimming a blank to a predetermined shape and size comprising a base, an end cutter fixedly mounted on said base, a screw member rotatably carried by said base, and a pair of side cutter blades held in slidable engagement with said base by said screw member, the width of the supporting surface of said outter blades being greater than the height of the blades, said side cutter blades being movable by said screw and being maintained by said screw in abutting relationship with said end cutter.

3. A cutting die for trimming a heel breast flap to a predetermined shape and size comprising, a

base, an end cutter fixedly mounted on said base, a central cutter having a cutting edge formed to the shape of a desired ornamental de- 7 sign, said cutter being rigidly mounted on said base plate, a screw-member rotatably supported 6 by aidrbase, and a. pair of side cutterblades held: in slidable engagementwith. said base by said screw member. the. cutting: edges of said blade being formedto. thedesired shape of the side edges of. the flap, said side cutter blades meeting said end cutter at an angle and being movable toward and away fromv one another in abutting relationship with said end cutter while maintaining, the: centered relationship of said central cutter. 4. A cutting die fortrimming; a heel breast flap to a predetermined shape and size comprising, a base, an; end cutter fixedly mounted in said base, a Screw member rotatably supported by said base, a pair; of side cutter blades held in slidable engagement with said base by said screw member, the cutting edges. of said blades; being formed to the desired shape of the side edges of the flap, said side, cutter blades being movable in abutting. relationship with said end cutter and a second pair' of cutter blades disposed between said side. cutter blades and respectively movable therewith,

said second pair of cutter blades having a cutting edge formed to the shape of a desired ornamental design.

5.. A cutter die fortrimming a heel breast flap to a predetermined shapeand size, comprising a base plate, a straight blade cutter attached: to the said base in a transverse position, a mounting block having transverse bearing means therein secured to said base plate, a screw member having its central position journalled in said mounting block, a pair of longitudinally extending cutter blades disposed on opposite sides of said mounting block and meeting said straight blade cutter at an angle, screw thread means on said blades and on said screw member engaging with each other for outward movement of said pair of blades for one direction of rotation of said screw member and inward movement of saidpair of blades for a reverse direction of movement of said screw member said pair of blades being held in contact with said base plate by said screw member, and resilient means between said pair of blades to take up slack therebetween.

6. A cutting die for trimming heel breast flaps to predetermined shape and size comprising a supporting member adapted to be attached to a plunger or the like for operating the die, said tom surface of said base, bearing means in said mounting block, a screw member journalled in said bearing means, said screw member extending through said journalling means and having a right hand thread on one extension and having a left hand thread on the other extension thereof, a pair of cutter blades having edges formed to the shape of the side edge of the desired heel breast flap, said blades being disposed on opposite sides of said mounting block, said blades having screw thread means in the body thereof adapted to engage with the screw threads of said screw member, said blades being slidably mounted on said plate by said screw member, said side cutter blades being positioned at an angle with respect to said end cutter blade and abutting against the inner side thereof, and indicating means including a pointer connected for operating movement with one of said side cutter blades and an indicating scale on said base to indicate the respective positions thereof.

'7. A cutting die for trimming a heel breast flap to predetermined shape and size, comprising a base, an end cutter fixedly mounted on said base, a pair of side cutters slidably mounted on said base and meeting said end cutter at an angle, a central cutter disposed in centered position between said side cutters and means for moving said side cutters toward and away from one another while maintaining the relatively centered relationship of said central cutter and maintaining the angularly meeting relationship of the side cutters with the end cutter.

8. A cutting die for trimming a heel breast flap to predetermined shape and size, comprising a base, an end cutter fixedly mounted on the base, a pair of side cutters slidably'mounted on said base and meeting said end cutter at an angle, a central cutter fixedly mounted on said base and disposed between said side cutters and means for moving said side cutters toward and away from one another while maintaining the,

relatively centered relationship of said central cutter and maintaining the angularly meeting relationship of the side cutters with the end cutter.

9'. A cutter die for trimming a heel breast flap to a predetermined shape and size comprising a base plate, an end cutter having a straight cutting edge and fixedly mounted on said base, a screw member rotatably carried by the base plate having oppositely turned threaded portions, a pair of side cutter blades each having a threaded bore adapted to engage with a threaded portion of said screw member to be positioned with respect to one another by rotation of said screw member and to be slidably mounted on said base plate by said screw member and intermediate cutting blades disposed in symmetrical position between said side cutter blades and shaped to form an ornamental design on the heel breast flap.

LOUIS SABO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sabo Aug. 28, 

